Quotes: Ponting has his 'fun'

Australia captain Ricky Ponting tried not to get too carried away after he scored an unbeaten century as the hosts reached 346 for three in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

The day began ominously for England when Steve Harmison's first ball was taken at second slip by captain Andrew Flintoff. Openers Justin Langer (82) and Matthew Hayden (21) gave Australia a good start before Ponting made his mark, with Mike Hussey (63no) sharing in an unbroken 148-run fourth-wicket stand.

"It was quite an interesting start to the day," said Ponting. "Our openers got us off to a great start and put the England bowlers under pressure and then Mike and I had a nice little partnership to cap the day off."

Ponting said his form has not been good leading up to the Test but he completed his 32nd Test century, drawing his level with Steve Waugh for the most centuries scored by an Australian.

"I haven't made many of late, my one-day game hasn't been great," said Ponting. "But I got to go in when the shine was off the ball and was able to build an innings and spending some time in the middle was fun."

The Australia captain was not looking ahead to scoring a double century, however. "I will just worry getting through the first ball in the morning. The first hour is vital for us tomorrow," he said.

Ponting felt his team played well but he accepted Flintoff's side had not had much luck. "We have gone out there and let our natural games come out," he said. "I don't think the ball helped them (England) today - it didn't swing at all early on which is unusual in Brisbane and they didn't get mush assistance from the wicket.

"England had the knack last series of coming on and getting a wicket and getting a breakthrough and then putting the pressure back on us, and we didn't let that happen today."

Reflecting on England's poor day with the ball, which began with Harmison's wild opening delivery, spinner Ashley Giles said: "Everyone was nervous this morning. Steve's first ball went to second slip. He was obviously uptight and worried about his bowling.

"Steve Harmison is crucial to England. We need him firing and we need him at his best to win Test matches for England."

Giles said that England had been up against it after losing the toss on a benign Brisbane pitch. "It was a tough one for us today. We lost the toss and what is a very good batting wicket. The Aussies are very fine players. Ponting played beautifully.

"It was a long hard day in the heat and we stuck to our task pretty well. Now we've got to come out fighting again tomorrow and get some early wickets."

Giles was reasonably happy with his own bowling, which brought him the wicket of Damien Martyn, caught by Paul Collingwood for 29. "It was nice to pick up a wicket early on and I thought I had pretty decent control," he said.